All posts tagged Roadrunner Records

Red Bull Records has hired longtime East Coast promo man Joe Guzik to oversee the newly created promotions department at the label. Guzik began his career doing marketing at Roadrunner Records in 1997, before landing at Sony Music in 2000, where he would spend over ten years, most recently as VP of Alternative & Rock Promotion at Columbia Records. Guzik joins Red Bull Records, which was stealthily established in 2007, as the label continues to expand, most recently with growing momentum behind the label’s two latest signings, AWOLNATION and INNERPARTYSYSTEM. Both acts are currently making waves at alternative radio…

In a response to the surfacing of pirated LimeWire software online, LimeWire LLC has issued a cease-and-desist notice in an effort to stop the spread of the illegal software. The company was recently handed a permanent injunction, forcing the end of their distribution of the file-sharing software… Viacom has announced that they are selling Harmonix and have classified the Rock Band maker as a “discontinued operation” – the decision comes in response to falling sales for the once hugely popular game… After buying nearly 75% of the label in 2007, Warner Music Group has fully acquired Roadrunner Records. The label is expected to operate as an individual brand within the WMG stable… And Roger Faxon has issued a memo to EMI staff in response to the whirlwind of forecasting and speculation surrounding the label in the wake of the recent losing verdict for Terra Firma in their case against Citigroup. Billboard has the memo in full here…

For Those About to Rock: Ohio active rock act Downplay recently signed to Epic Records under the watch of head of A&R Mike Flynn. The band was also picked up by Bill McGathy for management. Epic scout and party promoter Jake Livingston described the typical signing process earlier this year to Ohio’s The Post, “The way to get on our radar is to get big in your region, like southern Ohio, and then the attorney signs you, and then the attorney gets you a manager, and then the music gets to us and then we fly out to see them.” Easy enough, right?… Elsewhere L.A. locals Eastern Conference Champions appear to be signing to Roadrunner Records. The band, a staple of the L.A. indie rock scene, was previously signed to Jordan Schur‘s SureTone label. The group also recently landed a highly-soughtafter inclusion on the Twilight Saga: Eclipse soundtrack with their song “A Million Miles an Hour.” A definite coup for the band’s longtime publisher Chrysalis Music…

Frequent Flyers: Looks like a A&R folks are going bush to catch New Zealand’s The Naked and Famous. Industry whale riders are making the long flight down under in droves to meet the band, whose single “Young Blood” recently debuted on the New Zealand chart at number one. They’re also among the nominees for the Silver Scroll, NZ’s premier songwriting award… Others are booking southbound travel to see Florida act Fit For Rivals. The band has been turning heads on Warped Tour dates throughout the south and industry ears with a new set of recordings. They play a homecoming show in Jacksonville on August 14th.

Free Agents: The “yet-to-be-named independent label” that Weezer recently tipped they’d be signing to for their next release, after leaving longtime label home Universal, has a name and it’s Epitaph Records. The band’s new forthcoming album is set to be released in September.

Chrysalis acquires over 45K copyrights in First State Media Group deal

All eyes were on EMI this week with the end of the quarter looming and no clear indication as to what kind of licensing deal, if any, would be struck at the last minute. At the end of day no deal was made, and the new default deadline for the beleaguered music company and its parent Terra Firma appears to be June… Chatter that American Idol owner CKX, Inc. is in discussions to sell the company was confirmed on Monday… As we alluded to last week, Chrysalis has announced its acquisition of First State Media Group, whose S1 Songs and State One Music trade names control over 45,000 copyrights including the former Dreamworks catalog and Wind-Up catalog… MP3.com founder Michael Robertson is preparing to take on internet radio with the rollout of his new service BYO.fm… Australian music start up Guvera launched a public beta in the U.S. on Tuesday… And Roadrunner Records will be releasing Korn‘s upcoming Ross Robinson-produced album Korn III – Remember Who You Are sometime this summer…